Speed-changing device.



PATENTED 00T. 2Q, 1903..

N. LOMBARD. SPEED CHANGING DEVICE. APPLIOATI'ON ULB? MAR. s. 190,3.

Z SHEETS-*SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

]Vhanllevlomb 4h p w @n V 8 No. 741,686. l PATENTBD 00T. zo, 1903.

' N. LOMBARD.

SPEED CHANGINGIDEVIGB.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.. 3, 1903. l N0 MODEL. 2 `SHBETSQSEPET 2.

llhtmwfLLombard' by Mah? ...L w 5. HHH 4 v zbsses:

. UNITED I STATES Patented octobr 2o, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

A SPEED-CHANGING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 741,686, dated October20, 1903.

A` Application filed March 3 1903.

To all whom it may con/cern:

Be it known that I, NATHANIEL LOMBARD, a citizen of the United States ofAm`erica,`and a resident of Brookline, in the county of Norfolk andState of Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvementsin Speed-Changing Devices, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

This invention relates to speed-changing devices, and-has forits objectthe production of adevice of thisnature which may be used on automobilesand* for similar purposeswhich will be effective in operation,economical in construction, obviatethe necessity of using clutches, andmake .unnecessary the throwing of the gears in and out of mesh,'as isnow done in many devices ofthis kind,4 which has beenfound in practiceto be veryl objectionable. p L

It consists in certain combinations of ele-L ments and arrangements ofparts, which will be readily understood byreference to the descriptionof the drawings and to the 'claims' to be hereinafter given. A. Y

Of the drawings, Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of aspeed-changing device embodying this invention. Fig. 2represen`ts asectional elevation of the same on line 2 2 onFig. 1. f

Similar characters refer to like parts in bothl figures of the drawings.-A

In the drawings, 10 isan actuating-shaft,

' which maybe connected with any suitable motive power and which isprovided with a gear 11, formed thereon or secured thereto, as may bedesired. In axial line with said actuating-shaft 101s a shaft 12 to bedriven, which may be connected with any suitable device to which itisdesired to transmit power. The driven shaft 12 is also provided with agear 13, which may beformed on or secured to said shaft. Outside of saidgears 11 and 13 is mounted upon said shafts 10 12 a suitable casing orhousing 14, `themain portion l5 of which is cylindrical in'shape and isprovided with bearings of any suitable nature for the short shaftJ 16,which is provided with a gear 17, Ymeshing into the gear 11, and alsowith a gear 18, which meshes with the gear 13 upon the driven shaft 12.The gear 17 is provided with a drum 19, which is partially surrounded bya brake-band 20, secured at senti No. 145,935. (No man.)

21 to the enlarged portion 15 of'said casing'.

The opposite end of said brake-band 2O is adjustably secured to thelever 22, pivoted at 23 tothe casing 15. Against the free end of thepivoted lever 22 the threaded rod 24 coacts for the purpose of clampingsaid gear 17 when it is desired'to prevent the same from revolving.v Therod'24 is mounted in bearings 25, forming a part of said casing, and issurrounded by a sleeve 26, which is provided with a female screw-thread27, which engages with the threaded portion of said rod 24. The sleeve26 while revolving is prevented from lateral movement by the bearings25. The

sleeve 26 is provided with a pinion 28, which meshes with the annulargrooves 29 of a rod 30, mounted in bearings in the actuating- -shaft 10.Surrounding said actuating-shaft 10 and outside of said casing 14v is agrooved collar31, secured to the rod 30 by means of .a plunger 37, keyedat 38 to a cylindrical `bearing 39 in said casing 15, in which it isfree to be moved when the sleeve 26 is revolved about the 'rod 24. Theouter face of said plunger 37 conformsto'the periphery of Vthe casing15, which is encircled by a fixed ring 40, which may be secured to anyfixed point.

The gears 11 and 17 are preferably made of the same size, while thegears 18 and 13 are preferably made of a smaller and larger diameter inorder to obtain a variation in speed for the driving-shaft 12 whendesired. In the drawings the gears are shown of such a size that whenthemotionis transmitted from the actuating-shafttothedriven shaftthroughthe gears 11, 17, 18, and .13 a speedwill be communicated to the drivenshaft of one-half of the actuating-shaft. It is obvious,`how ever, thatthe sizes of the gears may be varied to secure any variation in speedwhich may be desired. It is also obvious that while in the drawings twogears 17 and 18 are shown to transmit the motion from the gear 11 to.the gear 13 a single gear of two diameters might be used equally aswell. The clamprco ing-band 20, which coacts with the drum 19, issecured to a rod 41, passing through the pivoted lever 22 and providedwith a threaded portion 42, upon which are mounted nuts 43, by theadjustment of which the friction of the clamping-band 2O upon its drum19 may be varied.

It is obvious that a speed-changing device could be constructed andoperate satisfactorily with a single train of gearing connecting theactuating and driven shafts and With a single set of devices forchanging the condition of affairs, as has been described; but it isobvious that in order to have a perfectlybalanced device it ispreferable to have the various parts duplicated, as here shown in thedrawings.

As shown in the drawings, the casing 14 is mounted upon the actuatingand driven shafts by means of ball-bearings and the shafts 16,carryingthe gears 17 and 13, are also mounted in ball-bearings in theenlarged portion l5 of the casing; but it is obvious that the variousydevices might be arranged with ordinary bearings and would Work nearlyas well.

The operation of the device is as follows: The lever 34 being in theposition as shown in Fig. 1 and power being transmitted to theactuating-shaft10,the casing 14 and the gears 17 and 1S would each befree to revolve about their axes, and as a result no motion would betransmitted from the actuating-shaft 10 to the driven shaft l2. If,however, it is desired to transmit the same speed from theactuating-shaft to the driven shaft, the collar 3l is moved by means ofthe lever 34 lengthwise of the actuating-shaft 10 in a direction towardthe left of Fig. 1, thereby moving therewith the grooved rod 30 andcausing a rotation of the geared sleeves 26 about the rod 24. Thismovement through the coactingscreW-threads upon said sleeve 2G and saidrod 24 will cause the rod 24 to be moved against the free ends of thepivoted lever 22, thereby clamping the gears 17 through theclamping-band 20, thus preventing the gears 17 from revolving abouttheir axes. Owing to the fact that the gears 17 and 18 are thus clampedso that they cannot revolve, any motion transmitted through theactuating-shaft will cause the casing 14 l5 to revolve with saidactuatingshaft, and owing to the fact that the gear 18 is prevented fromrevolving its teeth will lock into the gear 13 and cause that and itsdriven shaft to revolve at the same speed that the actuating-shaft isrevolved. If, however, it is desired that the driven shaft be driven atone-half the speed of the actuating-shaft, the collar 31 is moved bymeans of the lever 34 in the opposite direction, in which case thegrooved rod 30 will cause the geared sleeves 26 to revolve in such adirection as to release all pressure upon the pivoted lever 22, andthereby permit the friction of the clamping-band 20 to be withdrawn fromthe drums 19 and allow the gears 17 and 18 to freely revolve, while atthe same time the plunger 37 is pressed firmly against the encirclingring 40, which surrounds the casing 15, and thereby clamps said casingto said pivoted lever and prevents further rotation thereof. When thecasing has been thus clamped, the gears 17 18 will be permitted tofreely revolve, and any motion of the shaft 10 will be transmittedthrough the gears 1l and 17 and thence through the gears 18 and 13 tothe driven shaft 12, revolving the latter at a speed one-half as greatas the actuatingshaft.

While the rod 30 is shown as mounted within the actuating-shaft, it islobvious that said rod might be equally as well mounted within saiddriven shaft without affecting the principles of this invention.

This makes a very effective speed-changing device, and all the Workingparts being wholly inclosed within a casing they are not liable to beinjured or become clogged.

One great advantage of this speed-changing device is that by means ofits construction the speed may be safely and readily changed at any timewhile the motor is iu operation without jar or clash inasmuch as thegears are continually in mesh. This does away with the necessity ofthrowing the gears in and out of mesh, as is often done in speedchanging devices now in use, and which has been found in practice to bevery objectionable and often unsafe. It also obviates the necessity ofusing clutches of any nature, thus obtaining a smooth-runningspeed-changing device which will run as smoothly and quietly While thespeed is being varied as at any other time during its operation.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1 1. In a speed-changingdevice, the combination of an actuating-shaft, a driven shaft, a trainof gears connecting said shafts, a clamping mechanism for said gears, arod within one of said shafts, means for operating said rod, andmechanism interposed between said rod and said clamping mechanism andoperating the latter.

2. In a speed-changing device, the combination of an actuating-shaft, adriven shaft, a train of gears connecting said shafts, a clampingmechanism for said gears, a rod located within one of said shafts, meansfor operating said rod, a series of grooves encircling said rod, andmechanism operalle by said grooved rod and connected with saidgear-clamping mechanism.

3. In a speed-changing device, the combination of an actuating-shaft, adriven shaft, a train of gears connecting said shafts, a clamping devicefor said gears, a rod located within one of said shafts provided with aseries of annular grooves, a geared sleeve meshing with and operated bysaid grooved rod and provided with an internally-threaded portion, athreaded rod Within said sleeve, and mechanism interposed between saidICO IIO

threadedrod and said gear-clamping mechanism.

4. In a speed-changing device, the combination of an actuating-shaft, adriven shaft, a train of -gears connecting said shafts, a clampingdevice for said gears, a grooved rod located within one of said shafts,a geared sleeve meshing with and operated by said grooved rod andprovided with an internallythreaded portion, a threaded rod within saidsleeve and a pivoted lever to Which the gearclamping mechanism issecured and againstl the free end of which the said threaded rod coacts.4

5. In a speed-changing device, the combination of an actuating-shaft, adriven shaft, a gear upon said actuating-shaft, a gear upon said drivenshaft, intermediate gearing meshing with said gears, a clamping'devicefor said intermediate gearing, a grooved rod` located within one of saidshafts, a geared sleeve meshing with and ope-rated by said grooved rodand provided with an internallythreaded portion, a threaded rod Withinsaid sleeve, and a pivoted lever to which the gearclamping mechanism issecured and with the free end of Which said threaded rod coacts.

7. In a speed-changing device, the combination of an actuating-shaft, adriven shaft, a gear upon said actuating-shaft, a gear on said drivenshaft, intermediate gearing meshing with said gears, a casing mountedupon said shafts and provided with bearings for said intermediategearing, a clamping mechanism for said intermediate gearing, a rodlocated within one of said shafts, means for operating said rod, andmechanism interposed. between said rod and said clamping mechanism andoperating the latter.

8. In a speed-changing device, the combiv nation of an actuating-shaft,a driven shaft, a gear upon said actuating shaft, a gear upon saiddriven shaft, intermediate gearing meshing with said gears, a casingmounted upon said shafts andprovided With bearings forl saidintermediate gearing, a clamping mechanism for said intermediategearing, a rod located Within one of said shafts, means for operatingsaidrod, a series 'of grooves encircling said rod, and mechanismoperable by said grooved rod and connected with said gear-clampingmechanism. l

9. Ina speed-changing device, the combination-of an actuating-shaft, adriven shaft, g a gear upon said actuating shaft, a gear upon saiddriven shaft, intermediate gearing 7o meshing with said gears, a casingmounted upon said shafts and provided with bearings for saidintermediate gearing, a clamping device for said intermediate gearing, arod located withinv one of said shafts and provided with a series ofannular grooves, a geared sleeve, meshing with and operated by saidgrooved rod and provided with an internallythreaded portion, a threadedrod Within said sleeve, and mechanism interposed between 8o saidthreaded rod and the gear-clampingmechanism. Y

10. In a speed-changing device, the combination of an actuating-shaft, adriven shaft, a gear upon said actuating shaft, a gear 85 upon saiddriven shaft, intermediate gearing meshing with said gears, a casingmounted upon said actuating and driven shafts and provided withvbearings for said intermediate gearing, a grooved rod located withinone of 9o said shafts, a geared sleeve meshing with and operated by saidgrooved rod and provided With an internally-threaded portion, a threadedrod Within said sleeve, and a pivoted lever to which the gear-clampingmechanism is secured and with the free end of which said threaded rodcoacts.

l1. In a speed-changing device, the combination of an actuating-shaft, adriven shaft, a gear upon saidv actuating shaft, a gear rco upon saiddriven shaft, intermediate gearing meshing with said gears, a casingmountedl upon the actuating and driven shafts and provided with bearingsfor said intermediate gearing, a clamping-drum secured to saidintermediate gearing, a lever pivoted to said casing, a clamping-bandcoactingwith said drum and having one end secured to said casing and theother to said pivoted lever, a grooved rod located Within one of said11o shafts, a geared sleeve meshing with and operated by said groovedrod and provided with an internally-threaded portion, a threaded rodWithin' said sleeve, and means for operating said rod.

12. In a speed-changing device, the combination of an actuating-shaft, adriven shaft, a gear upon said actuating shaft, a gear upon said drivenshaft, a gear meshing with` the gear on the actuating-shaft and provided12o with a clamping-drum, a second gear mounted upon the shank of the'last-mentioned gear and meshing with the gear upon the said drivenshaft, a casing mounted upon the actuating and driven shafts andprovided with bearings for said intermediate gears, a lever pivoted tosaid casing, a clamping-band coacting with said drum and having one endsecured to said casing and the other to said y pivoted lever, a groovedrod located Within I 3o one of said shafts, a geared sleeve meshing Withand operated by said grooved rod'and provided with aninternally-threaded portion,

interposed between said operating-rod and said plunger to force saidplungerinto contact With said encircling ring.

14. In a speed-changing device, the combination of an actuating-shaft, adriven shaft, gearing connecting said shafts, a grooved rod locatedWithin one of said shafts, means for operating said rod,` a casingmounted upon said shafts, a ring encircling said casing, a geared sleevemeshing with the grooves in said rod and provided with a threadedportion, a threaded rod mounted in said sleeve, and a plunger mountedupon the end of said threaded rod and projecting through bearings insaid casing and adapted to engage with said encircling ring.

15. In a speed-changing device, the combination of an actuating-shaft, adriven shaft, gearing connecting said shafts, a clamping device for saidgearing, a rod located Within one of said shafts, means for operatingsaid rod, a casing mounted upon said shafts, a ring encircling saidcasing, a geared sleeve meshing With the grooves in said rod andprovided with a threaded portion, a threaded rod mounted in said sleeve,a plunger secured to the end of said rod and mounted in a bearing insaid casing, a clamping device for said gearing and mechanism interposedbetween said clamping device and said threaded rod.

16. In a speed-changing device, the combination of an actuating-shaft, adriven shaft, a train of gears connecting the said shafts, a clampingmechanism for said gears, a rod located Within one of said shafts, meansfor operating said rod, a casing mounted upon said actuating and drivenshafts, a ring encircling said casing, a plunger mounted in said casingand adapted to engage said encircling ring, and mechanism interposedbetween said plunger and said gear-clamping mechanism and saidoperating-rod.

17. In a speed-changing device, the combination of an actuating-shaft, adriven shaft, a train of gears connecting said shafts, a clampingmechanism for said gears, a rod located Within one of said shafts, meansfor operating said rod, a casing mounted upon said actuating and drivenshafts, a ring encircling said casing, a plunger mounted in a bearing insaid casing and adapted to engage said encircling ring, and mechanismoperable by said grooved rod and connected with said gearclampingmechanism and said plunger.

1S. In a speed-changing device, the combination of an actuating-shaft, adriven shaft, a

train of gears connecting said shafts, a clamping device for said gears,a casing mounted upon said actuating and driven shafts, a ringencircling said casing, a rod located Within one of said shafts andprovided with a series of annular grooves, a geared sleeve meshing withand operated by said grooved rod and provided with aninternally-threaded portion, a threaded rod within said sleeve, aplunger secured to one end of said rod and adapted to engage saidencircling ring through an opening in said casing and mechanisminterposed between said threaded rod and the gear-clamping mechanism.

19. In a speed-changing device, the combination of an actuating-shaft, adriven shaft, a train of gears connecting said shafts, a clamping devicefor said gears, a casing mounted upon said shafts, a fixed ringencircling said casing, a grooved rod located Within one of said shafts,a geared sleeve meshing with and operated by said grooved rod andprovided with an internally-threaded portion, a threaded rod Within saidsleeve, a plunger secured to one end of said rod and mounted in bearingsin said casing and a pivoted lever to which the gear-clamping mechanismis secured and with the free end of which said threaded rod coacts.

20. In a speed-changing device, the combination of an actuating-shaft, adriven shaft, a gear on said actuating-shaft, a gear on said drivenshaft, a casing mounted upon said shafts, a fixed ring encircling saidcasing, intermediate gearing meshing With the gears on said actuatingand driven shafts and having bearings in said casing, a clamping devicefor said gearing, a grooved rod located Within one of said shafts, ageared sleeve meshing with and operated by said grooved ro`d andprovided with an internally-threaded portion, a threaded rod Within saidsleeve, and a pivoted lever to which the gear-clamping mechanism issecured and With the free end of which said threaded rod coacts.

2l. In a speed-changing device, the combination of an actuating-shaft, adriven shaft, a casing mounted upon said shafts, a Xed ring encirclingsaid casing, a gear upon said actuating-shaft, a gear upon said drivenshaft, intermediate gearing having bearings in said casing and meshingWith the gears on said actuating and driven shafts and provided with aclamping-drum, a clamping-band coacting with said drum, a grooved rodlocated Within one of said shafts, a geared sleeve meshing with andoperated by said grooved rod and provided with an internally-threadedportion, a threaded rod Within said sleeve, a plunger secured to one endof said rod and adapted to engage with said fixed ring through openingsin said casing, and a pivoted lever to which the clamping-band issecured and with the free end of Which the said threaded rod coacts.

22. In a speed-changing device, the colnbination of an actuating-shaft,a driven shaft IGC IIO

a casing mounted on said actuating and driven shafts, a ix'ed ringencircling said casing, a gear on said actuating-shaft, a gear on saiddriven shaft, intermediate gearing mounted in bearings in said casingand meshing With said gears on said actuating and driven shafts, aclamping-drum secured to said intermediate gearing, a lever pivoted tosaid casing, a clamping-band coacting With said drumv and secured at oneend to said casing and at the other to said pivoted lever, a grooved rodlocated Within one of said shafts, a geared sleeve meshing with andoperated by said grooved rod and provided with an internally-threadedportion, a threaded rod within said sleeve, a plunger secured to the endof said rod mounted in bearings in said casing and adapted to engagewith said fixed ring, and mechanism for operating said grooved rod toactuate said clamping-band.

23. In a speed-changing device, the combif nation of anactuating-shaft,a driven shaft, a gear on each of said shafts,intermediate gearing connecting said gears, a casin g loosely mountedupon said shafts and inclosingsaid gears, a fixed ring encircling saidcasing,

and mechanism located Within said casing forv clamping the same to saidfixed ring and permitting said intermediate gearing to freely revolve orto permit said casing to freely revolve while said intermediate gearingis prevented from revolving.

24. In a speed-changing device, the combination of an actuating-shaft, adriven shaft, a casing mounted on said shafts, a fixed ring encirclingsaid casing, mechanism located Within said casing for transmitting avarying speed from the actuating-shaft to the driven shaft, andmechanism located Within one of the shafts for regulating thespeed-changing mechanism;

25. In a speed-changing device, the combination of an actuating-shaft, adriven shaft, a gear on each of said shafts, intermediate gearingconnecting said gears,a casing loosely mounted upon said shafts, a fixedring encircling said casing, mechanism for clamping said casing to saidring, mechanism for preventing said intermediate gearing from revolving,and means for operating the casingclamping mechanism or thegear-clamping mechanism or preventing either of these mechanisms fromactin 0'.

26. In a speed-changing device, the combination of an actuating-shaft,'a driven shaft, a gear on each of said shafts, intermediate gearingconnecting said gears, a Casin g loosely mounted upon said shafts, afixed ring encircling said casing, mechanism for clamping said casing tosaid ring, mechanism for preventing said intermediate gearing fromrevolving, and means located within one of the shafts for operatingeither the casing-clamping mechanism or the gear-clampin g mechanism orpreventing either of these mechanisms from acting.

27. In a speed-changing device, the combination of an actuating-shaft, adriven shaft, a gear on each of said shafts, intermediate gearingconnecting said gears, a casingloosely mounted upon said shafts andinclosing said nation of an actuating-shaft, a driven shaft,

a gear on each of said shafts, intermediate gearing connecting saidgears, a casing loosely mounted upon said shafts, a fixed ringencircling said casing, and mechanism for clamping said casing to saidfixed ring and permitting said intermediate gear to freely revolve or topermit said casing to freely revolve While said intermediate gearing isprevented from revolving, or to permit said intermediate gear to revolveWhile the casin g is freely revolving about said supporting-shafts.

29. In a speed-changing device, the combination of an actuating-shaft, adriven shaft, a gear on each of said shafts, intermediate gearing connecting said gears, a casingloosely mounted upon said shafts, a fixedring encircling said casing, and mechanism located within said casingfor clamping said casing to s'aid fixed ringand permitting saidintermediate gearing to freely revolve or to permit said casing tofreely revolve while said intermediate gearing is prevented fromrevolving.

30. In a speed-changing device, the combination of an actuating-shaft, adriven shaft, a gear on each of said shafts, intermediate gearingconnecting said gears, a casing loosely mounted upon said shafts, afixed ring encircling said casing, and mechanism located Within saidcasing for clamping said casing to said fixed ring and permitting saidintermediate gearing to freely revolve or to permit said casing tofreely revolve While said intermediate gearing is prevented fromrevolving, or to permit said intermediate gearing to revolve While thecasing is freely revolved about said supporting-shafts.

3l. In a speed-changing device, the combination of an actuating-shaft, adriven shaft, a gear on each of said shafts, intermediate gearingconnecting said gears, a casingloosely mounted upon said shafts,mechanism located Within said casing for clamping said intermediategearing and preventing it from revolving, and means located Within oneof said shafts for operating said clamping mech- ICC IIO

a gear on each of said shafts, intermediate gearing connecting saidgears, a casing loosely mounted upon said shafts and mechanism locatedwit-,hin said casing for clamping said intermediate gearing andpreventing it from revolving.

34. In a speed-changing device, the combination of an actuating-shaft, adriven shaft, a gear on each of said shafts, intermediate gearingconnecting said gears, mechanism located within said casing for clampingsaid intermediate gearing and prevent-ing iti from revolving, a casingloosely mounted upon said shafts, a fixed ring encircling said casing,mechanism for clamping said casing to said fixed ring and means locatedWithin one of said shaft-s for operating said clamping mechamsm.

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 21st day of February, 1903.

NATHANIEL LOMBARD. Titnessesz WALTER E. LOMBARD, EDNA C. CLEVELAND.

